DENVER — The sign of the Colorado Springs headquarters of the evangelical Christian ministry Focus on the Family was defaced days after a gunman attacked the city’s sole LGBTQ+ nightclub.
“Their blood is on your hands” and “five lives taken” were spray-painted onto the sign following Saturday night’s mass shooting in Colorado Springs at Club Q. Five people died, and at least 18 others were wounded.
Focus on the Family spokesperson Katie Anderson confirmed the sign was vandalized, but wouldn’t comment on when the incident occurred.
“We recognize the community is hurting in the aftermath of the reckless and violent actions of a very disturbed individual,” said Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, in a Friday statement. “This is a time for prayer, grieving and healing, not vandalism and the spreading of hate.”
Focus on the Family defines itself as “a global Christian ministry dedicated to helping families thrive.” The organization supports the anti-abortion movement in the abortion debate, and features anti-LGBT+ broadcasts, including “Leaving Homosexuality and Finding Forgiveness” and “Transformed by Grace: Leaving Homosexuality to Follow Christ.”
“The families of the five individuals killed in Saturday night’s senseless attack are in our prayers,” Daly said. “We urge everyone to pray for peace and we also pray for the individual or group responsible for this mischievous and unwarranted defacing of our ministry’s property.”
A Twitter account called “colorado peoples press,” which has thousands of followers, on Thanksgiving evening posted photos of the graffiti and a letter signed by “members of the Front Range queer community.”
“Before proceeding we feel it is our responsibility to acknowledge that we acted without consent from the families of these people,” the anonymous letter stated. “It is no accident that this happened in Colorado Springs, a city steeped in homophobia, transphobia, and white supremacy.”
The Colorado Springs Police Department couldn’t be reached for comment on Friday.
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